Gear-shifting lock.



J. L. WELLER & F. E WINCHESTER. GEAR snmms Lpcx; APPLICATION FILEDOCT-25.1918.

1 ,296,026 Patented Mar. 4, 1919.

2 IL. We/la r #1 E. Whit/wafer,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. WELLER AND FRANKLIN EARL WINCHESTER, 0F RICHMOND, INDIANA.

GEAR-SHIFTING LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 4, 1919.

To all 'tDhOI/lit may concern Be it known that we, Jonn L. \lnnnnn andFRANKLIN EARL \Vrxcunsrnu, hoth citizens of the United States, residingin the city of Richmond, in the county of Wayne, State of Indiana, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Gear-Shifting Locks forAutomobiles or the like, of which the following is a full, clear, andaccurate specification and exposition, the same being such as willenable others to make and use the same with precision.

Our present invention relates to locks, or locking means, which are.especially applicable to automobiles or the like, and incorporatescertain lIHPI'OVQmQHtS in connection with that covered by our formerPatent, No. 1,263,826, dated April 23, 1919.

The object of this invention, broadly stated, is to provide a combinedinterlock, locating lock, and transmission lock, for automobiles,wherein the mechanism will be simple in character, positive in action,strongand durablein construction, easily operated by an :ulthorizedperson, and which can be manufactured and Installed at a coinparativelylow price.

The specific objects of this invention are: to combine, with a gearshifting mechanism, interlocking means, locating locking means, andtransmission locking means, also combining the same with each other, andwith certain improvements over and in addition to that shown in ourformer patent above referred to.

By the word interlock, as used in this instance, is meant the means. forlocking either one of the shifting rods, or their et uivalents, frommovement While the other is being moved or is in'a position other thanneutral. By the expression locating lock is meant the means wherebytheoperator canlde-termine when either one of the shift-' ing rods arein any one of their operative "ositioris to which they may. be shiftedor operation, and also providing the means whereby the shifting rodswill be looked, against inadvertent movement, in the posi tion to whichthey have been shifted. By, the expression transmission lock 7 is meantthe means for locking the shifting-rods, or,

other movable parts, against movement in either direction by anunauthorized person, whereby the gears will be secured from movementfrom the position in which they have been left, unless one has theproper key or combination thereto.

Ib is to be understood that in some instances the shifting rods mayremain stationary. or entirely dispensed with, while the shifting forksare slidable on the rods or their equivalents, in. which case ourtransmission lock maybe employed with only slight variations, in orderto lock the shift ing forks direct against unauthorized movement ineither direction.

It should be further stated that the inter locking means and thelocating locking means are substantially the same mechanism in thisinstance, but only difiercntly applied, the only difference being thatthe latter employs slightly different notches in the shifting rods, theparticularly novel feature being that one mechanism is employed toattain two distinct results. Also the trans mission lock is adapted tooperate in connection with the interlock or the locating lock, in suchmanner as to cause them to act as part. of the entire gear shiftinglocking means.

One way of carrying out the principles of our invention in a practicaland a mechanical manner is shown in the accompanying drawings, inwhichFigurc l is a side ele ration of the control and the cover for thetransmission case, showing our invention in connection therewith. Fig. 2is a vertical cross section, as taken throu h the invention on the line22 of Fig. 1. ut showing the transmission lock in unlocked position.Fig. 3 is a vertical central section, taken longitudinally as on theline 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing the transmission lock as in locked position.Fig. 4 is. a detail horizontal section showing the interlocking and thetransmis. sion cking means. Fig. 5 is a perspective ,vie of thetransmission locking -means. 6 is a plan view showing the. means for loing the locating. locking means, And Ii-ig. 7 is a plan lview of theupper end or face of the transmission locking means.

Similar indices'denoteflike' parts'throughoutthe severalview.

Our invention, is 1 applicable, 1 with but transmissions, antransmissionfoperabing means, but in 'llhlSJhlSttlnOB the transmlsslonproper is located below the floor hne A-A,

slight. variations, to all torms and fnakes of with the face of thetransmission lock even with the surface of the floor, and with thecontrol lever extending upward thereabove for a considerable distance.

Referring now to the drawings in detail: Numeral 1 denotes the coverplate, or flange, for the transmission case, to which it is adapted tobe bolted in the usual manner. Numeral 2 denotes the body of thecover,which is integral therewith, and projecting upward from the centralportion of the body 2 is the housing 3, which is round in hor1zontalcross section, and its interior is formed hollow, with the lower portion4 of the control lever operative universally therein, and with the upperor outer portion 5 of the control lever extending thereabove in theusual manner.

Numeral 6 denotes the dome-cap which covers the upper end of the housing3, with the control lever extending through said cap and securedthereto, said cap being adapted to turn universally on the upper end ofthe housing 3. The central portion of the control lever is mounted foruniversal move ments in the upper end of the housing 3.

Formed integral with the rear side of the housing 3, and with the top ofthe body 2, is the transmission-lock case 7, its face being flush withthe floor-line A-A in most instances.

Also formed integral with the rear end portion of the cover 1, and withthe bod 2,

and spaced equally on each side of the ock case 7, are the bearingprojections 8 and 9, with parallel apertures formed horizontally andlongitudinally therethrough for the respective shifting rods 10 and 11to slide in horizontally.

Extending down into the forward central portion of the body 2, andintegral therewith, are the bearings 12a in which the forslide in.

ward portions of the r0 5 10 and 11 may Secured on the central portionsof the rods 10 and 11 are the respective shifting forks 13 and 14, witheither one of which the lower end of the control leverJna engage toshift the forks forward and Jackward whereby the transmission gears willbe shifted in the usual manner.

All of said parts, except the case 7, are of ordinary construction, towhich we make no claim, neither are we to be limited thereto.

In -our' former patent, above mentioned, the interlock was indicated asbeing located at the forward end of the'device, but in this instance theinterlock at the forward end is dispensed with, and the interlock islocated at the rear end portion of the device and in.

connection with the transmission lock, and this new arran emciit formspart of our invention and wi i now be explained in detail,

Formed horizontally through the bearing ro'ection 8 and entcrin the aerture in P 7 the bearing projection 9, but not extending through theouter wall of the latter, is an aperture 15, round in cross section, inwhich the interlock and the locating locking cones are located. Theaperture 15 is located on the same plane as are the rods 10 and 11, andit is at right angles thereto, Fig. 4.

Lon/ring mam/1cm.

20 are the deeper or interlocking notches 21 and 22, the same also beingformed in the respective rods 10 and 11. The taper points of therespective cones 16 and 17 are, as shown in Fig. 4, located in theinterlocking notches 21 and 22, respectively, but in Fig. 6 they areshown as being located in shallow or locating notches.

Extendin down into and through the face of the case is a comparativelylarge cylindrical chamber 23 which, in this instance, has a convergentbottom, through the center of which is a vertical aperture for thepurpose hereinafter explained, which intersects the aperture 15, but itis slightly forward of the center thereof.

Located in and fitting the upper portion of the chamber 23 is thethimble24. Said thimble is retained in place as horizontal hole 25 is borednear the top and in the center of the rear side of the case 7, and thetool b which the hole 25 is formed is projected tirough and across thecenter of the chamber 23 and then continued into the inner wall of thefront side of said chamber, thereby forming the socket 26 to reccive thedetent or pintle 27, which latter is simply a short length of small pipeor. rod, with its forward end adapted to be located in a correspondingaperture formed in one side of the thimble. It is evident that saiddctent may be inserted from the interior of the thimble from which itmay be pressed into the socket 26, thereby preventing the thimble frombeing turned or removed, that is after the barrel is in position.

The barrel of the transmission lock is de noted by numeral 28, theinterior of said barrel being of ordinary construction with which thisinvention is not concerned A key 29 is provided for the barrel, the samebeing adapted to be inserted into the keyaperture 30 whereby the body ofthe key enters the interior of the barrel in order to draw in theplunger 31 whereby it will be follows: 'A

flush with the periphery of the barrel. Said plunger 31 is normallypressed outward by spring means within the barrel. Formed in the side ofthe barrel is a vertical slot-cavity 3:2. Said barrel :28 is adapted tofit snugly in the collar 24. with its upper end or face flush with theupper end of the collar, at which time the plunger 31 will be projectedout. immediately below and engaging the lower end of the collar :26 andadapted to prevent the barrel from being moved upward until a fter theplunger has been drawn in by the key. 7

A screw 33 extends through the hole 25, with its shank threaded throughthe wall of thc thimble A, and with its point projecting into theslot-cavity 32, thereby limiting the movements of the barrel butpermitting it to be moved up and down only within the limits of thelength of the slot-cavity A stem or locking pin S-l is formed integralwith the lower end of the barrel 28 and it projects down concentrictherewith. The lower end of the stem 3% is pointed, as indicated at 35.Said stem extends down from the barrel through the chamber 23, with itslower portion slidably fitting in said aperture which connects thechamber 23 with the aperture 15, being ofi'set forward with relation toth latter.

A. helical spring 36 encircles the stem 34, with its upper end seatedagainst the bottom of the barrel 28, and its lower end resting on thebottom of the chamber 23, and said spring is adapted to force the barrelas resiliently upward to its limit of movement.

The lower end of the stem 34 is adapted, when the barrel is downward toits iimit, to be located between the inner ends of the cones in and 17to retain them in spaced relations as shown.

Operation.

It should be observed that if the barrel 28 be upward to its limit, asin Fig. that the control lever may be moved from neutral position. inwhich it is shown, to either one of the operative positions, that is tolow, intermediate, high, or reverse. \Vhcn the control lever is moved tothe left and rearward then the rod 11 will be moved forward, therebcausing the fork 13 to move the gears into low gear. This movement willcause the cone. 17 to move toward the cone 16. thereby preventing thecone 16 from moving out of the notch 21. and thereby interlocking therod 10 until such time as the lever is brought to neutral position, thatis until the rods 10 and 11 are in-relative positions in which they areshown in Fig. 4. 'hen the rod 11 is moved forward to low position thenthe point of the cone 17 will drop into the near notch 20, therebyforming a locating lock at that point for the rod 11, and still causingthe cone 16 to act as an interlock for the rod 10.

Desiring next. to shift to intermediate speed, the lever is returned toneutral position thereby causing the rods to assume the positions shownin Fig. 4, after which the lever may be moved to the right and forward.thereby :ansing the rod 10 to be moved rearward. his will cause the cone16 to more toward the cone 17, thereby preventing the cone 17 frommoving out of the notch '22 and thereby interlocking the rod 11 untilsuch time as when the lever is again returned to neutral position. 'henthe rod 11 is moved rearward to intermediate position then the point ofthe cone 11' will drop into the far notch 19. thereby forming a locatinglock for the rod 10 when the gears are in intermediate position andstill causing the cone 1? to act as an interlock for the rod 11.

Desiring now to moveto high speed, the lever is again moved to neutralposition thereby causing the cones to again assume the position shown inFig. 4, then the lever may be moved to the right and rearward, therebycausing the rod 10 to move. forward until the point of the cone 16engages in the near notch 19, thereby forming a locating lock for thehigh gear position, and the other parts will act in the same manner asin the other positions mentioned.

For the reverse movement the lever is again brought. to neutral and thenmoved to the left and forward, the parts operating before. with the rod11 moved rearward until the point of the cone 17 is seated in the farnotch 20, thereby forming the locating lock for the rod 11 in reverseposition.

From the above it will be seen that when the rods 10 and 11 are inneutral position that either one of them may be moved forward orbackward, but one of them will always be locked in neutral position whenthe other one is in any position other than neutral, thereby providingthe interlock. It should also be noticed that when one of the rods isshifted to one of the positions other than neutral that the point of thecone on that side will enter the notch for the posi tion selected andwill thereby act as the by eating lock for that position.

\Vhen the lever is in neutral position, that is with the cones 16 and 17in the larger notches, 21 and 22, then if the barrel 28 be pressed downflush with the collar 24, as in Fig. 3', it is evident that the stem 34will be driven down between the cones thereby preventing either one ofthe rods 10 or 11 from being moved to either of the operation positions,and when the barrel is down to its limit the plunger 31 will engageunder the collar 2-1, thereby placing the transmission lock in' actionwhich manifestly will prevent the gears from being placed in gear.

If it should be desired to arrange the device to unploy the transmissionlock to act in either one of the operative positions as Well as inneutral then all of the notches in the rods 10 and 11 may be made of thesame size, that is as locating notches, with the space between the conessuch that the stem may enter between the cones when any two notches arein alinement with the cones, as is shown in Fi 6.

When we re er, herein, to the rods 10 and 11 as being in neutral or inshifted position it is to be understood that we refer also to the forks13 and 14 which are rigidly connected thereto, as said rods only act asguides for the forks, in fact the forks may be integral with therespective rods, or means other than said rods may be employed forguiding the forks, and the looking means may be applied thereto in lieuof the rods.

Attention is called to the fact that if the screw 33 be removed, whenthe barrel 28 is down to its limit, that the barrel may be rotatedwithin the collar, but even then it cannot be moved upward, as theplunger will still be engaged under the collar, therefore the stem 34could not be removed from between the cones.

But with the screw 33 removed, it is evident, that if the key 29.beturned to retrieve the plunger 31 that the barrel 28, and the stem 34could be entirely removed from operative position.

When the machine to which the mecha nism herein described is attached isin operative condition, then the barrel 28 and the stem 34 are upward totheir limits, as in Fig. 2, retained in that position by the spring 36,at wh h time the key 29 removed from the lock. Desiring now to lock thetransmission, whereby the machine, or automobile can not be placed ingear, then one has only to press down the barrel 28 to its limit (whichcan be done by the foot of the driver, pr by ones hand) thereby bringingit to the ,position shown in Fig. 3, whereby the plungcr 31 will engageunder the collar 24, and the stem 34 will be located between the conesl6 and 17, thereby holding them in the notches opposite thereto. andthereby a solutely prevcntime the transmission from being placed ingear. Desiring then to operate the machine one has only to insert thekey 29 in the l cy-aperture 30 of the barrel. pressing the key down toits limit, and then giving a slight turn thereto, which will draw in theplunger 31, after which the spring -36 will force the barrel upward andthereby withdraw the stem from between the cones which will permit thegears to be shifted to any position desired in the usual manner.

It is to be understood that balls may be employed in place of the cones16 and 17, similar to that shown in our former patent above referred to,or a combination of balls and cones, or other equivalents may beemployed if preferred.

It is also to be understood that 'we are not to be limited to a key foroperating the transmission look, as a permutation or other locking meansmay be employed if so desired.

It is to be understood that the collar 24 may be dispensed with, thebarrel 28 being then made of a size to tit the interior of the chamber23, or the chamber may be made to fit the barrel, in which event acounterbored channel 37 may be formed around inthe wall of the chamber23 to receive the projecting portion of the plunger 31, said channel 37bein indicated n Fig. 3. I

We also esire that it he understood that various changes andmodifications may be made in the details of construction from thatherein shown and described without departing; from the spirit of thisinvention and without sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having now fully shown and described our invention, what we claim anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States. is

1. In combination "with a transmission having a pair of shifting rodsoperative longitudinally therein parallel with each other with notchesin their proximate faces, an extension having a cylindrical chambertherein which. is disposed in vertical position, a lock-barrel fittingin said chamber and having a plunger adapted to engage inside saidchamber to prevent the barrel from being moved upward when said plungeris engaged but permitting the barrel being rotated in the chamber whilethe plume ger is engaged, means for manually drawing the plunger withinthe barrel, means for limitin the endwise movement of the barrel when tto plunger is released, means for normally ressing the barrel outward toits limit 0 movement when said plunger is released, a pair of lockingmembers located in an aperture intersecting the lower end of saidchamber at right-angles thereto and also intersecting the apertures in.which the shifting rods operate and at right-angles thereto, means fornormally and resiliently forcing said locking Il'llIHlXl'S apart andinto contact with the respective shifting rods, and a locking-pinextending down from said barrel and adapted to enter between saidlocking members when the looking members a re in the respective notchesof the shifting rods whereby said rods will be locked against endwisemovements.

2. In combination with a transmission having a pair of shifting rodsoperative longitudinall; therein parallel with each other, a singlemeehanism providing an interlock, loeating ltXlL and transmission lockfor said rods. said mechanism comprising a pair of oppositely disposedlockingmembers 01)- erative horizontally and adapted to enter notchesformed in the proximate sides of said rods a springhaving its endsseated between Silltl locking members and normally foreing the loekingmembers apart. a vertl- Cally operative loeking-pin adapted to heinserted between the inner ends of said locking members when saidlorking members are lorated in said notehes of the rods, :1 loeltinbarrel loeated on the upper end of the lOCkingpim means for normallyforcing said barrel upward with the loekingpin out of the path of saidloekmg membera- 1116:1119

for locking said barrel at its downward limit of movement with thelocking-pin be tween said locking members, and means for inelosing allof said part; with material which in integral with the transmission, allsubstantially as shown and deseribed.

3. In combination with a case having a (ylindrieal chamber therein, aeollar titling the outer portion of Htlld ehan'iber, a loek barrelfitting in said eollar and having a plunger adapted to enqa e with theinner end of the collar, means for retaining the collar in positionwhich means is retained in plaee by the barrel in the collar. means forlimiting the endwise movement of the barrel in the eollar. and aspringfor normally presaing the barrel outward to its limit of movement.

4, In eombination with a transmission, a (UHF having a \'liud1'iea]ehamher therein, a leek-barrel fitting in said ehamber and having aplunger adapted to engage inside -waid ease to prevent the barrel frombeing moved upward when the plunger is engaged but permitting the barrelbeing rotated in the ehamber while the plunger is engaged. meam forlimiting the endwise movement of the barrel when the plunger isreleased, meana for normally pressing the barrel outward to its limit ofmovement, and means carried by the barrel t'or lurking the transmixaionwhen the plunger is engaged.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto slllfit'l'l kll our names to thisspecification in the presence. of two Slllist'libing witnesses.

JOHN L. WELLER. FRANKLIN EARL WINCHESTER. Witnesses:

Rom. lhxnmr, It. 15. RANnnn.

